How Hemp Textiles Are Born in Ukraine: Ma’Rijany Hemp Company in the New Episode of the Project “Not-So-Light Industry”

How Hemp Textiles Are Born in Ukraine: Ma’Rijany Hemp Company in the New Episode of the Project “Not-So-Light Industry”

In just a few years, industrial hemp in Ukraine has gone from being a niche agricultural crop to a potential driver of the textile industry. In the new episode of the video project “Not-So-Light Industry”, the creators took a behind-the-scenes look at Ma’Rijany Hemp Company — a business that produces its own hemp fiber, giving an impulse to the manufacturing of clothing made from natural fabrics.

Watch the episode: YouTube channel “Not-So-Light Industry”

From an Abandoned Building to the Factory of the Future

The factory where Ma’Rijany now operates has a long history. It was built back in Soviet times and ceased functioning in the 2000s. The company’s team decided to breathe new life into it, rethinking its purpose. According to Igor Didok, the company’s Commercial Director, the motivation was the desire to provide Ukraine with its own raw material and to establish a domestic textile industry.

“Ukraine practically lacks its own textile fiber production, both natural and synthetic. This creates a dependency on imports. We realized that if we want efficient manufacturing, we must have a stable source of raw material. And hemp is one of those crops that Ukraine can grow independently and even export,” he explained.

The Technological Path: From Field to Fabric

The company currently cultivates 1,300 hectares of land and plans to expand to 2,000 hectares in the coming year. Half of all industrial hemp crops in Ukraine are concentrated here. The company grows and initially processes the raw material itself. This process is just the beginning of a complex chain, which ideally should end with the production of finished clothing in Ukraine. To achieve this, additional investments, infrastructure, and technological links are required: namely spinning, weaving, and sewing industries. But, according to Igor Didok, within 3–5 years, a full cycle of hemp textile production “Made in Ukraine” is a fully achievable goal.

Ukraine as a Textile Player

Thanks to its favorable climate, vast land resources, high-quality soils, and relatively low cost of land use, Ukraine has all the prerequisites to become a key player on the international market. Even today, Ma’Rijany’s products spark interest among fashion companies looking for sustainable alternatives to cotton and synthetics. High-quality Ukrainian raw material also attracts foreign buyers who value ecological production and the versatility of hemp fiber.

Challenges and Next Steps

The development of a full production cycle currently faces several systemic challenges. First, the absence of a complete technological chain. Second, a shortage of equipment for the later stages of fiber processing. And third, a lack of qualified personnel in an industry that is only beginning to take shape.

Just a few years ago, hemp textiles in Ukraine seemed almost utopian. Today, thanks to the availability of raw materials, strong agricultural potential, an ambitious team, and a clear strategic vision, a hemp shirt labeled Made in Ukraine has become an entirely realistic goal.

Investments, technological modernization, and openness to partnerships create the conditions for hemp to become, in the coming years, a new strategic resource for Ukraine’s light industry: ecological, local, and competitive on the global market.